Gerry Reid's Professional Development Tip
Do Others Know Where You Are?
Simple question: If your wife, husband, child, parent or other significant person in your life had to get in touch with you, RIGHT NOW, would they know where to find you? Sounds simple, provided you are where they normally expect you to be. But, what about the moments in your life when you are called out of your normal working location, or when you are on a business trip?
You never know when the unexpected will happen to you! Accident, fire, injury, sickness, storm, even lightning can change your life and the lives of your family in an instant! Ask me and my family - it happens!
Until it happens to you, the need for instant communication from your family to you seems trivial. For your loved ones, a few minutes or hours can be excruciatingly painful while they try to locate you in an emergency. It is during those first dramatic moments when we need those we love the most.
First, be sure they know alternative phone numbers at your work. Phone numbers for your boss, your bosses' boss, your closest associate(s), the security office, the front office, the executive in charge, even the police department serving the city where you work - all of these numbers should be written down and quickly available.
Second, whenever you are going to be at a location that would be unknown to you family, call them and let them know where you'll be. Leave a message on your home answering machine if you have to. It's always nice to hear from someone you love, so call your husband or wife (or other loved one) where they work - tell them you love them and give them the temporary telephone number or location you will be at. Also, let them know when you have returned.
Third, when going on a business trip, prepare a sheet of paper with all of the following:
- Departing airline flight numbers and times, including connecting cities or stops.
- The airline's 800 number.
- The hotel address and phone number where you will be staying and the 800 reservations number.
- If making business contacts, the name(s) and number(s) of those you will be with.
- If at a class, conference or convention, the "headquarters" number and the site (venue) name and number.
- Your returning airline flight number and times, including connecting cities or stops.
If any of the above changes, especially your airline schedule, call home and let them know. I have gone so far as to call from the plane (a very expensive call using the on-board system) as we left the gate when I've caught a different flight at the last minute. Even though the odds are very much against it, an airline disaster anywhere, while you are on the road, is upsetting to your family. Having your travel schedule in hand and knowing for sure which flight you are on can help them feel more secure that you are alright.
Once you have experienced a situation where you need to get in touch with someone or they need to get in touch with you quickly, you'll never go without this information. But, of course, that would be after it was needed! Therefore,
Do it now!
I hope it will be a waste of your time forever! That will mean you never needed it, because the emergency never occurred in your family.